smithville ef5 damage well built homes

Moving at 70mph, the tornado took only seconds to sweep two large, well-constructed brick homes from their foundations. Nearby, a grove of large hardwood trees was obliterated. The intense inner core shifted away from Main Street and raced into a neighborhood north of Smithville’s business district. The EF5 damage was confined to a narrow corridor, but moderate to severe damage spread several blocks to the south. Extensive wind rowing is evident – a damage feature unique to the most violent of tornadoes.